blog post 5: Nichijou

Nichijou is a Japanese comedy animated series. This show focuses on a group of high school students who face bizarre random moments in their lives. The whole premise of the show is ironic because Nichijou translated into English means “everyday life”. But as one watches the show he realizes that it’s a paradox because nothing that happens in the show is ordinary.

One of the paradoxes involves an eight year old child who builds a robot which takes care of her and acts like an adult. Another contradiction is that the robot acts like a real person and wants to fit in with the other real students at the school. The eight year old also know as ‘professor’ makes a scarf for a cat which enables the cat to talk like an old wizard.

Though Nichijou is a comedy, it still portrays  the seriousness of the lives of high school students. The students always work hard in school and the ones who don’t finish their homework go through hardcore means to finish their homework on time. The means are so hardcore that they are portrayed in an over the top manner, such as yelling in the middle of class to ask to borrow homework from the nerdy ones.

Some animated comedies are just meant to make people laugh, and they will go to any means to do that. Nichijou, however, is a comedy with depth. The humor is drawn out by all of the ironies and paradoxes that are woven into the story. 😀

Blog post 4: Naruto

Naruto is a Japanese manga animated series. This series talks about a boy who has a wide vision of becoming the greatest ‘Hokage’, meaning a person who is the greatest leader and the best ninja at the village. Naruto grew up without parents and faced series of challenges throughout his life, yet he never gets distracted from his goals and stays focused towards his ambitions. Naruto as a character inspires me to never give up on my dreams, goals and ambitions. Just watching Naruto everyday makes me want to be more and more like him.

In this animated series, people make fun of Naruto, they laugh at his dreams, and they think he is a crazy nut head. Despite of having so many people against him, Naruto never turns his back on his village and fights as a true ninja warrior to protect his village. No matter how many times his opponents beat him down in various battles, he never gives up. He is always back on his feet and is ready to fight more. Looking at Naruto’s character I’ve realized that I should never give up on life. Even if I fail my exams or I fail to carry out my duties, I’ve decided not to give up and continue to do my work in the best way possible.

Blog post 3: The Spectacular Spider-Man

The Spectacular Spider-Man animated series is the latest remake of the original Spider-Man animated series. Based on the superhero character published by marvel, Spider-Man is definitely one of the most popular figures of all time. The story talks about a high-school teenager named Peter Parker, who looses his uncle and lives with his aunt. His life takes a serious shift when he gets bit by a genetically mutated spider at a research lab. During this process the spider’s DNA combines with Peter’s DNA helping him attain supernatural abilities. He puts these abilities to good use and becomes a masked vigilante, to help  the neighborhood stay safe and secure. The Spectacular Spider-Man series teaches one to prioritize his duties at any given situation. A parent’s duty is to raise their children with proper moral support, a teacher’s duty is to teach her students, a soldier’s duty is to fight for his country during a war, and in the same manner a superhero’s duty is to protect his neighborhood and put the villain in his right place. This animated series proved that Spider-Man never failed to carry out his duty.

Peter Parker has always been a brilliant student. He could have focused only towards his school work, or he could have also dated a girl and led a normal happy life, however he decided to stand by his moral duties and save his neighborhood no matter what. Whether a bank is being robbed, whether a building is on fire or whether a crowd of people are in major trouble, Spider-Man is always present to save the day, because that’s his job.

Blog Post 2: Violence in Cartoons

Violence has always played a huge role in the animation industry. Violence has been portrayed in the forms of humor, horror, and relief. Audiences usually feel relieved after watching a violent scene where the hero puts the villain in his right place. Different types of violence in animation has been suited for different kinds of audiences.

Kids love to watch Popeye The Sailor Man, where Popeye beats up Bluto and saves Olive. The violent fights between Popeye and Bluto after Popeye eats spinach have inspired many children to eat spinach and fight for women in any circumstance. This show would have been useless and boring if it wasn’t for the short violent scenes between the two characters.

Other great shows include violence in different ways. In the animated show The Road Runner Show, Wile E. Coyote attempts numerous violent ways to capture the Road Runner using dynamite, guns, cannons etc. Tom and Jerry also have an infinite amount of violent scenes where the two characters use various means to fight, trap, or escape each other. This is what makes the show highly entertaining and humorous.

Violence in animated shows has always played different roles in different scenarios. Animated shows rated for mature audience involves more gruesome violent scenes, whereas animated shows for kids involve violent scenes that are either humorous or un-alarming. This is why violence in some of the animated shows enhances the entertainment for the viewers.